Shoe-upper moistener.



J. MULLINS.

SHOE UPPER MOISTENER. APPMcATIoN-HLED MAR. 26. 1917.

Patented Nov. 20,1911

JAMES MULLINS, F SANFORD, MAINE.

SHOE-UPPER IVIOISTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29,1917.

Application filed March 26, 1917. Serial No. 157,318.

To all whom it may concern:

. ful Improvements in Shoe-Upper Moistenwaste or other fibrous filling, without loss or ers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for moistening the toe portions of partly lasted shoe uppers while the parts are on the last, the last and the upper thereon being inserted in an inverted position in a casing to which vapor is supplied, the vapor being diffused through a filling of fibrous material, such as cotton waste, occupying the lower portion of the casing and contacting with the portion of the upper to be moistened.

The invention has for its object to provide an effective and simple moistening apparatus adapted to properly moisten or temper the toe portion of an upper, and free from liability to injureany of the parts of the shoe which are inserted in the casing.

The invention also has for its object to prevent the long continued use of the cotton impairment of its efficiency.

The invention is embodied in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specifioation,-

Figure lis a perspective view of the easing of my improved moistener, without the removable parts or elements of the mois tener hereinafter described. i

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the entire moistener. p

Fig. 4: is an enlargement of a portion of 3; Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 areperspective views of the removable parts shown by Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the, shoe supporting racks.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

The casing 12 of my improved moistener may be madeof sheet metal, or any other suitable material or materials, and preferably includes vertical back and front walls, vertical end walls, an inclined top wall and an inclined bottom wall, the top and bottom wallsbeing oppositely inclined, so thatthe back wall is longer than the front wall. The

casing is supported at the rear by the angle formed by the back and bottom walls, and at the front by a flange 13 having a foot 13.

In the front wall is an opening let formed to permit the insertion in the casing of the toe portions of two or more incomplete inverted shoes 15, each including a partly lasted upper, the toe portion of which is not lasted, means being provided for supporting said shoes in predetermined positions. I have embodied said means in a wooden bar 16, constituting a shoe rest portion, having a series of recesses 17 receiving portions of the lasted uppers, a wooden bar or strip 18, a

series of wire racks 19, the strip 18 and racks 19 being attached by bolts 20 to the flange 13. The strip 18 and racks 19 constitute supplemental shoe rest portions. The bar 16 is preferably inserted loosely and removably in a socket formed by the front portion of the bottom wall of the casing and by flanges 21, 22 attached to said wall and to the flange 13. 23 represents a steam pipe entering the lower portion of the casing and supplying steam or vapor thereto, said pipe having perforations 2st. In the lower portion of the casing is a filling of fibrous material, such as cotton waste, located between the pipe 23 and opening 1 1, the top of said filling being in close proximity to the shoe uppers inserted in said opening. The fibrous filling is preferably composed of a lower mass or body 26 and an upper mass 26. The lower mass 26 which is inserted first, supports a loose vapor-concentrating baflle-plate 27 which rests in a substantially horizontal position on said lower mass, and forms a partition extending from front to back and from end to end of the casing. In

7 the plate 27 near the front edge thereof are formed orifices 28, arranged to coincide with the notches 17, so that the vapor difiiused through the mass 26 is concentrated at said orifices and passes upwardly directly under the toe portions of the shoe uppers, the vapor flowing through the upper mass 26 which is superimposed on theplate 27 after the latter is located. Thetop of the casing is provided with a vapor outlet 30 located atthe upper portion of said top. To prevent water of condensation dripping from said outlet from contacting with and injuring a part of the shoe, such as the toe portion of the inner sole, 1 provide an inclined deflector 31, which is a plate formed to extend from end to end of the casing and loosely supported by inclined ledges or cleats 32 attached to the ends of the casing, the lower edge of the deflector-restingloosely on the back of the casing. 7

As shown by Fig. 3, the defiector '31 over-- hangs the toe portion of an inserted shoe, and is-in the pathof water dripping from the outlet 30, and deflects suchlwater toward. the back of the casing. The upper edge of the: deflector isspaced from the .front of thecasing, so that vapor passes: freely ;up-. I ward between; said front and the-detlectoron itsway to the outlet. 33 represents a flexible porous apron of fibrous j1TlZ15tBlltLl, such as cheese cloth, secured at one ed ge, to= the casing, at the-lower edgeof the opening 14:, the apron being preferably composed 1 of two or more layers of cheesecloth.- A por tion of saidiapronjrests on the top of said fibrous .filling,,and constitutes a porous covering which contacts. directly with the toeportion of the shoe. upper, anglenot only diffuses. the rising vapor, but also prevents the i fillingfrom becoming .matte'd' or com- P LGted atiits. surface by. pressure of the upper against it, the apron;con-formingztothe unlastedtoe portion ofthe upper, as shownr byv Fig. 3, The apron and the-.-fillii1g; 33 constitute a porous-bed for the inserted-poi. Y tionof the upper: The woven fabric ofthe, apron is firmer than i the filling, and: resists the. pressure of the upper sufficiently tofprevent saidpressure from. imp airing .the po ro sity of the fillingportion ofsaid bed.

The front edge of the apron 33, is preferably clamped between the bar 16 andthe .walls ofthe' socket in which said bar -isinserted,--.- as shown by Fig.4.. The apronr is prefer j ably elongated to extend upwardly over. ele vate'd supporting means, here. shown as ems bodied in ahorizontal rod 35 attached to the endsof. the casing, If desired, the deflector. SImayconstitnte a part of said supporting: mean athe. apron extending across the upper edge, of said-deflector and depending loosely therefrom as.indicated by Fig; 3. One end of,the. apron is therefore secured, and the; other end is. loose, so that-the apron isH adapted to conformto various sizes and shapes of uppers.

Theizdeflector 31,-may be loosely confinedi against the cleats 32,.by a :body 36 of cotton waste.

A stand pipe 37 in the bottom of-the cas-s mg -permits the escape ofwater therefrom.

The. racks .19 have vertical U-shaped neck portions19 which are adjustably confinedq by-the. boltsEZO so that the racks may be vertically adjusted. Saidneck portions occupy vertical grooves .18 (Fig, 8) ,k in the. inner. side-of the clamping,.strip 18, the. edges ofthe grooves preventing the said neck portions from turning on the. bolts 20.

Thebalildplate 27 may be provided withupwardlyjprojecting flanges 27. at the orifices 28, to prevent the material of the mass 26 from being pressed or packed closely into said orifices and obstructing the flow of vapor therethrough. I have shown only one of'said flanges in Fig. 6, but it is obvious that a flange may accompany each orifice. One function of the lower mass 26"of-fibrou-s material .is-. to support the battle-plate 27.. It is obvious, however, that said plate may be removably supportedwby other:meansain which :case; themass 26'. may :be omitted.

F .orwexainple', theinnger edg e otthe plate may. bear on a cleati r10 attached: to the back of i the easing, theuouter; edgei bearing on as incl-ined'bottom walliwof tlll@"CtSlI1g-f 5; The deflector-31 may have .asocket 31 formed to receive the rod 85, "as: shown i by- 1 Fig. 9, said rodbeing aremovably. seeuredio Ethel cars--- ing to permit the removal orqrdis ala-oementofthe deflector. The. battleplate QZi may havedownwardly projecting; ears a2? be-' 7 tween its outer edge; and f mesmer- :edgesof the orifices 28, to prevent the fibrous vmatee rial 26 from-:being;paokeditoo closely into said.orifices-.- V

Another function ofwthe apron 33 is to: partially check theihotuvapor-iand prevent it.from;overheatingthesupper.

I cl-aim: 1 1 7 1.- A shoe upper moistener comprising iii-9 5 casing; having a shoe-receiving opening-g,- means for supporting 2a: plurality .of "shoes; in predeterminedpositions, means for supplying vapor to-the casing beloun said opening, a vapor-concentrating, zbaflierplate it SllPr; ported in the casing between thersaid vapor-H supplying means and shoe-receiving jopening, 5 and i having a plurality of apertures are ranged to concentrate the vapor under shoes;

held by -sa id-. supporting J;means,-.-and a gmass 1 of fibrous materialresting onsaid plate thev topsurfaceof said mass being inxclose proximity-to {the insertedeportions of the shoes uppers. p l

2. A shoe upper;'- moistener'comprising adm casing. "havingga shoevreceiving opening, means forz supporting; a -.plurality 30f. shoes in predetermined positions, means fornsupplying, yapor to the casing below; said opening, a lower mass of fibrous material ab'o ve llii thesaid vapor-supplying, means; a :vaporconcentrating batfife plate; resting l loosely onw said mass and 1 having af plurality ;of; aper- 'tures arranged togconcentrate the vapor, .un-

der shoes held by saidsupporting means,511 and an upper. mass of fibrous material resting on said plate, the- 130p surface. ofgsaidi upper 1 n1 ass :b ei ng, in. close proximityto the inserted portions of thehshoeuppers.

3. A-shoe upper moistener, comprisingga L casing havinggan upper-receiving, opening means for support1ng;a plurality of :"shoes! in predetermined positions,,meansg.fornsup plying. vapor tothe casingbelow] said opening, a filling of fibrous .ma-terial above 1 0 said vaporsupplying means, the top surface of said filling being in close proximity to an upper inserted in said open ing, supporting means within the casing located above said opening, and a flexible porous apron secured at one end to the easing below said opening and extending loosely from its secured end over said supporting means, its opposite end being free, said apron bearing on the top surface of said filling and adapted to bear on and conform to the toe portions of the shoe uppers, said filling and apron constituting a porous bed for the inserted portion of the upper, the apron also preventing the closing of the pores of the filling by pressure of the upper thereon.

4. A shoe upper moistener comprising a casing having an upper-receiving opening, and a socket at the lower edge of said opening, an upper rest detachably engaged with said socket, means for supplying vapor to the casing below said opening, a filling of fibrous material above said vapor-supplying means, the top surface of said filling being in close proximity to an upper inserted in said opening, and a flexible porous apron clamped at one end between said socket and rest, and extending inwardly therefrom over the top of said mass, said apron being conformable to the toe portions of the shoe uppers.

A structure as specified in claim 4, in which the casing is provided above said opening with supporting means on which a portion of said apron rests loosely.

6. A shoe upper moistener comprising a casing having a shoe-receiving opening, and means for supporting shoes in predetermined Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the positions, with their toe portions within the casing, means for supplying vapor to the casing below said opening, a mass of fibrous material above said vapor supplying means, the top surface of said mass being in close proximity to an upper inserted in said opening, a vapor outlet in the top of the casing, and an inclined deflector arranged to overhang the toe portion of an inserted shoe and located in the path of water of condensation dropping from said outlet whereby such water is deflected toward the back of the casing and prevented from contacting with the inserted shoe, the upper edge of the deflector being spaced from the front of the casing and permitting the upward passage of vapor between said front and the deflector.

7 A structure as specified in claim 6, in which the ends of the casing are provided with inclined cleats on which said deflector rests loosely, the lower end of the deflector resting against the rear side of the casing.

8. A shoe upper moistener comprising a casing having a front opening and a downwardly projecting flange below said opening, a clamping strip bearing on the outer side of said flange and having grooves in its inner side, shoe supporting yokes having vertical U-shaped portions inserted and vertically adjustable in said grooves and bearing on the edges thereof, and bolts securing said yokes and strip to the flange, said yokes being clamped between the said strip and flange, and prevented from swinging edgewise by the edges of said grooves.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

JAMES MULLINS.

"Commissioner oi Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

